The Price Was High: Fifty Uncollected Stories by F. Scott Fitzgerald

The Price Was High presents fifty previously uncollected short stories by F. Scott Fitzgerald, published in 1979 by Harcourt Brace & Company. The stories were originally written for popular literary magazines of the 1920s and 1930s but had never been authorized for collection during Fitzgerald's lifetime. The collection represents nearly one-third of Fitzgerald's total magazine work, drawn from the 164 stories he sold to prominent publications of his era. These pieces are arranged chronologically according to their original publication dates, offering a timeline of his development as a writer. The volume serves as a complement to Fitzgerald's earlier story collections like Flappers and Philosophers and Tales of the Jazz Age, filling in gaps in his published catalogue. The stories span various phases of his career and showcase his evolving style and thematic interests. These works explore recurring Fitzgerald themes of wealth, ambition, and social status in America, while reflecting both the glamour and underlying tensions of the Jazz Age. The collection demonstrates his ability to write for both commercial and artistic purposes, balancing entertainment with social commentary.

Readers note these stories showcase Fitzgerald's development as a writer, with many viewing them as more experimental than his novels. The stories range from his early commercial magazine work to more mature pieces. Readers appreciated: - Glimpses into 1920s-30s society and culture - Early versions of themes later explored in his novels - The variety of writing styles and character perspectives Common criticisms: - Uneven quality across stories - Some feel dated or formulaic - Several stories seem rushed or underdeveloped Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (226 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (12 reviews) Notable reader comments: "Fascinating to see his growth as a writer" - Goodreads reviewer "Some gems mixed with obvious commercial work" - Amazon reviewer "Not his best work but valuable for understanding his career" - Goodreads reviewer The collection appeals mainly to Fitzgerald enthusiasts rather than casual readers.

Complete Stories by Dorothy Parker A collection of short stories from the same era as Fitzgerald that captures the wit and social commentary of 1920s New York society.

Tales of the Jazz Age by F. Scott Fitzgerald This collection contains previously uncollected works from Fitzgerald's prime writing period, featuring similar themes of wealth, romance, and social climbing.

The Collected Stories by John O'Hara These short stories chronicle the American social landscape of the early-to-mid twentieth century with focus on class distinctions and moral decay.

The Collected Stories of Katherine Anne Porter by Katherine Anne Porter Porter's stories examine the complexities of human relationships and social structures during the same time period as Fitzgerald's work.

The Short Stories by Ernest Hemingway This compilation presents stories from Fitzgerald's contemporary and friend, exploring similar themes of disillusionment and lost innocence in post-World War I society.

🌟 The title "The Price Was High" comes from Fitzgerald's own words about writing commercial fiction to support his lifestyle and artistic endeavors. 🌟 Several stories in this collection were written while Fitzgerald was struggling with alcoholism and caring for his mentally ill wife, Zelda, in the 1930s. 🌟 The earliest story in the collection was written in 1919 when Fitzgerald was just 23 years old, and the latest in 1937, five years before his death. 🌟 During the peak of his career, Fitzgerald commanded up to $4,000 per story from magazines - equivalent to roughly $60,000 in today's money. 🌟 Some of these stories were discovered in Fitzgerald's papers at Princeton University, where he had studied but never graduated, and were previously unknown to the public.